Therapeutic Agent for Tauopathy and Method for Screening Thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a tau protein aggregation inhibitor. In addition, a therapeutic agent or a preventive agent for tauopathy, including a tau protein aggregation inhibitor, and a method for screening for a tau protein aggregation inhibitor, are also provided. The problems are solved by a tau protein aggregation inhibitor including a fluorone dye or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Moreover, the problems are also solved by a method for screening a tau protein aggregation inhibitor, wherein the method includes: (1) a step of preparing transgenic Drosophila that express a human tau protein in neurons, (2) a step of administering a candidate compound to the transgenic Drosophila, and (3) a step of measuring the motor function of the transgenic Drosophila that have been administered with the candidate compound in the step (2).

1 . A tau protein aggregation inhibitor comprising a fluorone dye or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The tau protein aggregation inhibitor according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluorone dye is rose bengal. 
     
     
         3 . A therapeutic agent or a preventive agent for tauopathy, comprising the tau protein aggregation inhibitor according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . The therapeutic agent or the preventive agent according to  claim 3 , wherein the tauopathy is Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         5 . A method for screening for a tau protein aggregation inhibitor, wherein the method comprises:
 (1) a step of preparing transgenic  Drosophila  that express a human tau protein in neurons,   (2) a step of administering a candidate compound to the transgenic  Drosophila,  and   (3) a step of measuring the motor function of the transgenic  Drosophila  that have been administered with the candidate compound in the step (2).   
     
     
         6 . The screening method according to  claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises:
 (4) a step of measuring the survival rate of the transgenic  Drosophila  that have been administered with the candidate compound in the step (2).   
     
     
         7 . The screening method according to  claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises:
 (5) a step of administering the candidate compound to wild-type  Drosophila,  and   (6) a step of measuring the motor function and/or survival rate of the wild-type  Drosophila  that have been administered with the candidate compound in the step (5).   
     
     
         8 . The screening method according to  claim 5 , wherein the human tau protein is a 2N4R tau isoform.